That made Alexia frown and Caius just quietly took another sip of wine while Lyanna seemed to be making it a point to look anything but interested in the conversation.

Elenor at least had better perception than a stone so of course, she sensed something.

"What is it?" She asked, her eyes moving from Alexia to Caius, "No confidence in Law Enforcement?"

"I think they’re doing fine work," Caius said simply, "Good luck to them.

Alexia had a bit more to say of course.

"Law Enforcement is fine," she said, "But monster—Vampire Hunting is a lot different from just keeping the peace. There is insidious magic involved that the average Mage or Mage-Knight does not have the skills to deal with."

Alexia clearly didn’t agree with her uncle about the indomitable human spirit. She remained convinced a Task Force led by humans had no real chance at success.

"Well, I suppose you are an expert on the matter," Elenor said thoughtfully,

"You could offer your knowledge. Consult and make the effort better."

"It doesn’t work like that," Alexia said and turned her face away like that was the most she wished to say on the matter.

Caius just smiled. He kept that smile even after Elenor’s attention was back on him.

"What do you think, Caius?" Elenor said.

"I think everyone has the right to try to keep their home safe. If the Task Force believes they can manage, then let them have at it," he said.

Alexia rolled her eyes at him but said nothing.

Elenor beamed.

"I think so as well. And they seem so confident too," She said and then, her expression became thoughtful again, 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"You’re a Von Helsing as well. You helped in getting Anna back. You could consult with the Task Force!"

"Ah, there’s an idea," Caius said in a non-committal tone and took another sip of wine.

Before he knew it, he had finished the glass. For something he had no real passion for drinking, that went down really smooth.

"You like the wine?" Elenor asked.

"It’s very good," Caius answered as he signaled for a waiter to bring over another tray. Since he had decided to act normal with a drink in hand, he might as well commit to the act to the point of appearing like an alcoholic.

Caius took a glass and Alexia replaced hers. Caius didn’t know but it was her fourth glass of the night.

"Well, I’m glad you think so," Elenor said with pride, "I made it."

"Did you now?" Caius said, looking impressed.

"Hmm Hmm," Elenor resounded with a nod.

"Well, you didn’t actually make it, did you?" Lyanna said then. She sounded as sweet as ever but there was a competitive edge in her tone as Caius realized there was a vibe here he hadn’t picked up on much earlier.

"You’re being pedantic," Elenor said with a nonchalant wave of her hand.

"My Lo— I mean, Caius, the Lavignes are a wine family. They built their wealth and status upon it, that much is true. But I highly doubt she has ever been to a brewery in her life," Lyanna said.

"Careful girl," Elenor said with a strained smile.

"I think I sense hostility," Caius said, unable to keep a smile off his face.

"You think?" Alexia said with a scoff.

After a moment, Caius felt he understood the conflict here— Though he had a feeling that word was too strong to use here.

The two families—Leopolds and Lavignes—clearly had a rivalry going. The Leopolds dabble in all things trade which had to include wine, and Caius had a feeling that was where the two families had crossed each other’s paths.

Caius doubted—mostly because of a supposed age difference between the two—that Lyanna and Elenor were actually competing against each other. He liked to think it was just good-natured competition between wealthy families who still had dealings.

The exchange reminded Caius that even with all that the Leopolds were into underground—literally and metaphorically—they still had a public image of just being... a Mercantile family.

"Anyway, Caius," Elenor said, "If you like the wine, you should visit sometime. See the brewery and see where the magic happens.

And Alexia, you should come too."

Alexia frowned at her invitation sounding tacked on but gestured her acknowledgment with a tipping of her now empty wine glass. Which she promptly replaced with another full one.

Suddenly, the murmurs in the crowd changed. The conversation became about a single thing as all eyes turned towards the very front of the Hall where a door opened like a special entrance and a small group of people walked in.

At the front of the group were two men. One of them was dressed in what looked like a suit. It was elegant and had the fine makings of high status but nothing too ostentatious like the ruby-buttoned suit Caius was wearing.

The man in the elegant suit had brown hair that was slicked back on his head. There were a few streaks of grey mixed in, giving him a dignified look. He was good-looking, his appearance like a man in his mid-forties with a thin mustache above his lips and a pointy beard on his chin.

By the Elegant man’s side was someone who looked a lot younger. He looked like he was in his mid-twenties with short ash blond hair. His charming face had no beard and he was wearing an Imperial suit. Caius knew it was imperial by the regality of it, and by the Acheron Empire insignia stamped in gold atop his chest.

The others behind the two men were dressed in military wear far different from and more dignified than those of the City Guards; They were Imperial Guards and left no question of the identity of the man in the Imperial Suit.

There was an air of respect all over the Hall now as all deferred to the authority and status of a member of the Imperial Family.

"Who’s the Imperial dude?" Caius asked Lyanna.

"Prince Duncan Acheron. Thirteenth in line for the title of Grand Duke," Lyanna said. There was a hint of deference in her tone but not that much.

While that could have been because Lyanna only really surrendered herself to one authority, Caius’s, it also might have been because Duncan wasn’t from the direct line of the Ruling Family.

The Acherons, like any Noble Family in the Empire, have many members and as such, there are branches and one Main Family.

The Main Family succeeds the Imperial Throne and that only continues through the Crown Prince/Princess. Once the Crown Prince/Princess takes on the throne, their line becomes the ’Main Family’ and their siblings become branch families essentially. Taking on titles of Grand Dukes, ArchDukes, Sovereign Princes, and so on. Who gets what title and who has to have none, is decided entirely by the ruling Emperor/Empress.

Duncan was descended from a branch family line and one of many who could inherit the Title of Grand Duke given to their particular branch.

And so, while supreme power might be far from Prince Duncan’s reach, he was still a member of the strongest, most powerful, and Supreme ruling Noble Family in the Acheron Empire. His name garnered respect and his presence at a Function such as this represented the Imperial Family and the authority they possessed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," the man in the elegant suit, with the pointy beard and thin mustache, standing beside nDubcan Acheron, said as he addressed the guests in the Hall,

"As many of you might already know, I am your host, Leonce Duval. I welcome you on this day as we discuss matters of great importance.

But first, we must address the Imperial presence in our midst;

Prince Duncan Acheron."

There was a chorus of claps and Duncan, a proud smile on his face, raised his hand to wave at them all. And then his eyes zeroed in on one person—a young man—not clapping his hands and whose attention was not directed toward him but at the lady by his side. The lady was clapping along but her attention was on the young man as well, their lips moving as they chatted.